Tai Chi Bang: Eight-Immortal Flute - 2021 Updated with Seated Bang Therapy and Self-Massage

Tai chi bang combines meditative self-healing and self-defense fundamental practice, and is based on characteristic tai chi postures. Tai chi bang provides an object to focus on between the palms, bonding the two hands as they move together, making it easy and fun for beginners to feel qi (氣), the vital energy. Some people who find it difficult to quiet their minds find this practice especially effective in gathering attention. Holding the stick with both palms helps them concentrate and be in the moment. The movement of the stick imitates the movement of the qi inside the body. It relieves stress, gathers in fresh energy, rejuvenates the body and spirit, brings inner calm, and promotes qi and blood circulation.
This is the updated 2nd Edition with my new creations added. It has been ten years since the 1st edition, and there have been some changes based on the practical teaching experience. Plus, this new version included my new research works on Seated (wheelchair) Tai Chi Stick Therapy, a special design for Clever Care Health Plan, and Tai Chi Bang for Self-massage. This is a much clearer and enriched new version. I have informed the BN Publishing and they have agreed to remove the old version from the market immediately.
This form was created during my doctoral research in Shanghai Sport University. I combined my hometown countryside meditation practice, from the nearby taoist Penglai Temple, with Chen style tai chi silk reeling, and local martial arts. My hometown has over a thousand years of history and is famous for the Eight Immortals story. In Chinese mythology the Eight Immortals are believed to know the secrets of nature, and practice internal alchemy to achieve enlightenment. Each of them has their own power tool to destroy evil and give life. They represent separately the male, the female, the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the noble, and the humble. The story encourages people to work hard on their practice, so anybody can achieve longevity. There are many martial art forms and meditation practices named after the immortals’ legendary stories, such as Eight-Immortal Sword, Eight-Immortal Cane, Eight-Immortal Fist, Eight-Immortal Fan. The Immortal who plays the flute, Han Xiangzi (韩湘子), is a philosopher, and is said to be the nephew of a Tang dynasty statesman. His power tool is a flute with the ability to make flowers bloom instaneousely and soothe wild animals.